Ed ChristopherEd ChristopherResource Center Planning Resource Center Planning

TeamTeamFederal Highway Federal Highway AdministrationAdministration

4749 Lincoln Mall 4749 Lincoln Mall Drive Matteson, IL Drive Matteson, IL

6044360443

708-283-3534708-283-3534Ed.Christopher@dot.govEd.Christopher@dot.gov

edc@EdTheFed.comedc@EdTheFed.com

Slides at EdTheFed.com

http://www.edthefed.com/presentations/What_is_an_MPO.ppt

  Why Does it Exist?Why Does it Exist?

What is Transportation What is Transportation Planning?Planning?

Transportation Planning is a Transportation Planning is a ProcessProcess It exists to provide the It exists to provide the

information needed for information needed for decision makers to choose decision makers to choose among alternative strategies among alternative strategies for improving transportation for improving transportation system performancesystem performance

Transportation Planning is a Transportation Planning is a ProcessProcess

Establishing a community/regional vision and Establishing a community/regional vision and identifying how transportation fits into the identifying how transportation fits into the visionvision

Developing/utilizing a cooperative and Developing/utilizing a cooperative and inclusive transportation vision and operations inclusive transportation vision and operations concept for the region concept for the region

Understanding the types of decisions needed Understanding the types of decisions needed to achieve the vision to achieve the vision

Assessing the opportunities and limitations Assessing the opportunities and limitations of the future in relation to goals and desired of the future in relation to goals and desired system performance measuressystem performance measures

and there’s more…

Transportation Planning is a Transportation Planning is a ProcessProcess

Identifying near- and long-term consequences Identifying near- and long-term consequences of alternative choices of alternative choices

Relating alternative decisions to goals, Relating alternative decisions to goals, objectives, and system performance measuresobjectives, and system performance measures

Helping decision makers establish priorities and Helping decision makers establish priorities and develop an investment programdevelop an investment program

Presenting this information to decision makers Presenting this information to decision makers

How is all this done?How is all this done?

Federally, Urban TransportationFederally, Urban Transportation Planning Began Planning Began

in 1962 with the Federal-Aid Highway in 1962 with the Federal-Aid Highway ActAct

Required that transportation projects in Required that transportation projects in urbanized areas of 50,000 or more people be urbanized areas of 50,000 or more people be based on a transportation planning processbased on a transportation planning process

Provided a funding mechanism for the process Provided a funding mechanism for the process to developto develop

Required the 3C planning process (cooperative, Required the 3C planning process (cooperative, continuing and comprehensive)continuing and comprehensive)

~ 51 years old~ 51 years old

What is the 3C Planning Process?What is the 3C Planning Process?

CooperativeCooperative—cooperation between —cooperation between federal, state, local levels offederal, state, local levels of government and various agenciesgovernment and various agencies within each level within each level

ContinuingContinuing—need to periodically—need to periodically reevaluate and update transportation planreevaluate and update transportation plan

ComprehensiveComprehensive—referred to 10 elements—referred to 10 elements for which inventories and analyses were for which inventories and analyses were requiredrequired

Consultative Consultative (evolved in over the last 20 years)(evolved in over the last 20 years)

“Cooperation means that the parties involved in carrying out the transportation planning and programming processes work together to achieve a common goal or objective” 23 CFR 450.104

Ten Basic ElementsTen Basic Elements ( (Comprehensive Comprehensive

DefinedDefined))

1.1. Economic Factors Affecting DevelopmentEconomic Factors Affecting Development

2.2. PopulationPopulation

3.3. Land UseLand Use

4.4. Transportation Facilities (Inc. Mass Transit)Transportation Facilities (Inc. Mass Transit)

5.5. Travel PatternsTravel Patterns

6.6. Terminal and Transfer FacilitiesTerminal and Transfer Facilities

7.7. Traffic Control FeaturesTraffic Control Features

8.8. Zoning, Building Codes, Subdivision CodesZoning, Building Codes, Subdivision Codes

9.9. Financial ResourcesFinancial Resources

10.10.Social and Community-Value FactorsSocial and Community-Value Factors

What Emerged From This?What Emerged From This?

Analytical Process and ToolsAnalytical Process and Tools

Metropolitan Planning Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOS)Organizations (MPOS)

Transportation PlansTransportation Plans

Analytical Process

Four PhasesFour Phases

1. Collection of Data1. Collection of Data

2. Analysis of Data2. Analysis of Data

3. Forecasts of Activity and Travel3. Forecasts of Activity and Travel

4. Evaluation of Alternatives4. Evaluation of Alternatives

The Urban Travel Forecasting The Urban Travel Forecasting ProcessProcess

Basic Four-Step ProcessBasic Four-Step Process

1. Trip Generation1. Trip Generation

2. Trip Distribution2. Trip Distribution

3. Mode Split3. Mode Split

4. Traffic Assignment4. Traffic Assignment

Other processes are evolvingOther processes are evolving

Activity Activity DynamicDynamicSimulationSimulation

Metropolitan Planning Metropolitan Planning OrganizationsOrganizations

1973 Federal-Aid Highway Act1973 Federal-Aid Highway Act Dedicated money to planning activitiesDedicated money to planning activities

Planning RegulationsPlanning Regulations Formalized the process, organization and Formalized the process, organization and

procedures procedures

A Policy Board Can IncludeA Policy Board Can Include Mayor(s)Mayor(s) Regional Planning Commission ChairRegional Planning Commission Chair County ExecutiveCounty Executive Airport DirectorAirport Director Port Commission ExecutivePort Commission Executive Transit Authority ExecutiveTransit Authority Executive DOT ManagerDOT Manager

Who is the MPO?Who is the MPO?MPOs are Policy Boards comprised of MPOs are Policy Boards comprised of local elected officials, officials of local elected officials, officials of public agencies that administer or public agencies that administer or operate major modes of operate major modes of transportation and State officialstransportation and State officials

Must Include (MAP-21)

Must Include (MAP-21)

Local Elected Officials

Local Elected Officials

Public Trans reps

Public Trans reps

Appropriate St. Officials

Appropriate St. Officials

How is the MPO Board How is the MPO Board Empowered?Empowered?

Required for urbanized areas of Required for urbanized areas of over 50,000over 50,000

Designation by agreement Designation by agreement between Governor and local between Governor and local governments that represent at governments that represent at least 75% of population (including least 75% of population (including the central city or cities) the central city or cities) oror in in accordance with procedures in accordance with procedures in State or local lawState or local law

What Area Does an MPO Cover?What Area Does an MPO Cover?

Urbanized Areas over 50,000 peopleUrbanized Areas over 50,000 people

Special case for Urban Areas over Special case for Urban Areas over 200K people (Transportation 200K people (Transportation Management Area or TMA)Management Area or TMA)

Metropolitan Planning AreaMetropolitan Planning Area

MetropolitaMetropolitan Planning n Planning AreaArea

Urbanized Urbanized AreaArea

How do MPOs Decide Things?How do MPOs Decide Things?

Generally through ConsensusGenerally through Consensus and a Committee Process and a Committee Process

Governor and local officialsGovernor and local officials (or State law) determine (or State law) determine

votingvoting status and status and agreementsagreements

By-LawsBy-Laws

What Do MPOs Do?What Do MPOs Do?

Serve as the Forum for the 3C Process Serve as the Forum for the 3C Process

Prepare/adopt 20 year Regional Prepare/adopt 20 year Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Transportation Plan (RTP)

Develop Transportation Improvement Develop Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Program (TIP)

Develop Unified Planning Work Develop Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)Program (UPWP)

Publish a Public Participation PlanPublish a Public Participation Plan

Additionally MPOs…Additionally MPOs…

Publish an annual listings of projects for Publish an annual listings of projects for which Federal funds have been obligatedwhich Federal funds have been obligated

Maintain a Congestion Management Maintain a Congestion Management Process (CMP) Process (CMP) for TMAS onlyfor TMAS only

Program Projects and Funds (STP, Program Projects and Funds (STP, CMAQ)CMAQ)

Track air quality conformity for Track air quality conformity for compliance with State plancompliance with State plan

Conduct technical studies, including Conduct technical studies, including travel surveys, demographics, and travel travel surveys, demographics, and travel demand modelingdemand modeling

Additionally MPOs…Additionally MPOs…

Work with member agencies to Work with member agencies to develop financial estimates for the develop financial estimates for the RTP and TIPRTP and TIP

Ensure fiscal constraint (balance Ensure fiscal constraint (balance revenues to expenditures)revenues to expenditures)

Initiate public involvement and Initiate public involvement and involve the public involve the public

Coordinate Plans and programs with Coordinate Plans and programs with state and other federal agenciesstate and other federal agencies

and much more . . . and much more . . .

The Long Range (Transportation) The Long Range (Transportation) Plan Plan

Metropolitan Transportation PlanMetropolitan Transportation Plan

At least a 20 year HorizonAt least a 20 year Horizon

Long and Short-Range Long and Short-Range Strategies/ActionsStrategies/Actions

Updated every 5 years (4 in non-Updated every 5 years (4 in non-attainment areas)attainment areas)

Use Latest DataUse Latest Data

Be Approved by the MPOBe Approved by the MPO

Some MTP ElementsSome MTP Elements Current and Forecasted Population and Current and Forecasted Population and EmploymentEmployment

Future Land Use PlansFuture Land Use Plans Projected Demand of Persons and Projected Demand of Persons and GoodsGoods

Adopted Management and Operations Adopted Management and Operations StrategiesStrategies

Multimodal Evaluation of NeedsMultimodal Evaluation of Needs Pedestrian and BikePedestrian and Bike Public Transit and FreightPublic Transit and Freight Roadway ElementRoadway Element Freight ElementFreight Element

Performance Based ApproachPerformance Based Approach Support National GoalsSupport National Goals Surface Transportation TargetsSurface Transportation Targets Public Transit TargetsPublic Transit Targets

Feds set goalsFeds set goalsState and transit set their targetsState and transit set their targetsMPO sets its targets (180 days or MPO sets its targets (180 days or less)less)

Monitor and Report on Progress Monitor and Report on Progress

NewNewMAP-21

MAP-21

Transportation Improvement Transportation Improvement ProgramProgram (TIP) (TIP)

Priority List of Projects Spanning at Priority List of Projects Spanning at Least 4 YearsLeast 4 Years

Typically Updated Annually Typically Updated Annually (required every 4 years) (required every 4 years)

Prepared in Cooperation with State Prepared in Cooperation with State and Public Transit Operator(s)and Public Transit Operator(s)

Opportunity for Public CommentOpportunity for Public Comment

Lists Funding SourcesLists Funding Sources

TIP (Cont’d)TIP (Cont’d)

Describes Projects Describes Projects Must include regionally significant Must include regionally significant

projects regardless of fundingprojects regardless of funding

May include non-federally funded May include non-federally funded projectsprojects

Must include federally funded projectsMust include federally funded projects

Financially ConstrainedFinancially Constrained

Consistent With 20 Year PlanConsistent With 20 Year Plan

Unified Planning Work Program Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)(UPWP)

Annual ProgramAnnual Program

Documents Planning Work Done with Documents Planning Work Done with SAFETEA-LU Funds Over the Next One SAFETEA-LU Funds Over the Next One to Two Yearsto Two Years

Includes Relevant State/Local Includes Relevant State/Local ActivitiesActivities

Has a ScheduleHas a Schedule

Identifies Responsible AgencyIdentifies Responsible Agency

Discusses Planning PrioritiesDiscusses Planning Priorities

Public Involvement Process Public Involvement Process (Participation Plan) (Participation Plan)

Proactive and inclusiveProactive and inclusive Public involvement in overall planning Public involvement in overall planning

activitiesactivities

Outreach to affected minority and low Outreach to affected minority and low income populationsincome populations

Numerous methodsNumerous methods Open houses, NewslettersOpen houses, Newsletters

Presentation, InternetPresentation, Internet

Cable access television programsCable access television programs

Financial ConstraintFinancial Constraint

Required by ISTEA and reaffirmed Required by ISTEA and reaffirmed by TEA-21 and SAFETEA-LU (by TEA-21 and SAFETEA-LU (MAP-MAP-2121))

Designed to bring realistic Designed to bring realistic expectations of current and future expectations of current and future revenues to processrevenues to process

Long Range Plans can have Long Range Plans can have illustrative projectsillustrative projects

Uses “year of expenditure”Uses “year of expenditure”cost estimatescost estimates

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Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

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http://www.edthefed.com/planning

http://www.edthefed.com/planning